The main goal of the Digital Library is to improve access to materials, many of which are old and rare and were only available to view in hard copy print format heretofore. The majority of our digitised material will become searchable via databases on the Internet.

In one of our first projects, early volumes of the Limerick Chronicle (1768-1809) were digitised and are available to view online (search for a specific issue or browse by date)

The digitisation unit of the Library was established at the end of 2008. Digitisation of materials is possible by means of sophisticated scanning equipment which will ensure the best possible images are reproduced. Finance for this equipment was acquired under the HEA Research Equipment Fund, as the result of a successful joint bid by the Library and the History Department.

UL40 Digitisation Project

This year marks the University's 40th anniversary and a project is underway to organise and digitise the photographic archives which document the history and the development of its campus, academic programs, and community life. Prior to moving the material into the digital library we are making some items available on The Commons from Flickr. Many of the photos are of individuals and these are proving the most difficult to identify and describe. By putting the pictures on Flickr Commons we hope that past UL students will recognise themselves or people they know and will add comments to the pictures to help us.

We have only put up a few photos to get started but over the next few months we will make many more available. If you would like to see the collection and begin identifying people you know please visit the UL Digital Library on Flickr Commons.